Step-ladder



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

y C. UDELL.

` STEP LADDER.

No. 309,323. PatentedDeo. 16, 1884;.

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

C. G. UDELL.

STEP LADDER.

No. 309,323. Patented Deo. 1,6, 1884..

- for it here.

llamen Strains Farrar Orrreie.

CIJVI G. UDELL', OF INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR TO MATTHIAS R. UDELL, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

STEPMLADDER.

EPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 309,323, dated December 15, 18814.

Application filed June 9,1984. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, CALVIN G'. UDIJLL, a resident of Indianapolis, Indiana, have made certain new and useful Improvements in Step- Ladders, a description of which is set forth in 'the following specification, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, in the several figures of which like letters indicate like parts.

My invention relates to the construction of step-ladders, and will be understood from the following description.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side view of a step-ladder embodying my improvements. Fig. 2 is a front view of the saine. Fig. 3 is a sectional view of a part of one of the steps and the socket and clamp of the shelf-rods.

Fig. 4 is a top view of brace Z and its supporting-bracket. Fig. 5 is a-top View of the device shown in Fig. 3. Fig. (5 is an' end view of the rod-clamp. 7 is an end view of the rod-socket. Fig. S is a side view of the parts shown in Fig. 4. Fig. 9 is an end view showing` the stop attached tothe under side of the top. Fig. l0 is aside View of the same. Fig. 11 is a side view of the main bracket with the legs attached. Fig. 12 is a front view ofthe same with the top attached. Fig. 13 is a perspective view of a part of a step with its supporting-bracket, and Fig. 14 is a view of the sanic with a modified forni of the bracket.

In 3 to 14, inclusive, which are of details, the drawings are upon a larger scale than in Figs. 1 and 2.

In detail the stepladder is formed of a pair of stiles or front legs, Z, united by steps st, rear legs, Z, and a top piece, 1i. The main bracket br is screwed to the side of the front legs, Z, as shown in Fig. 1l, and enters holes in the top piece, and is secured by nails, and this method of fastening is shown in a former application made by me, originally filed June 20, 1883; refiled .l une 2, 1884; Serial No. 133,596; allowed June 9, 1884, and nothing is claimed rIhe bracket is fastened to the :front legs by screws, and to the rear legs by spurs or points p, driven into the wood, as shown in Figs. 11 and 12, and has a stop, sti, against which the rear leg abuts when theladder is opened, preventing any further nievemeiit in that direction. A shelf, Sh, fastened to a rod or roller, r, by a ring-clamp, c, (sec Figs. (i and 3,) the rod being set in bearings iii sockets s on either side, Fig. 2, is adapted thus to swing up out of the way, so thatits outer end will pass under the top t and strike against a stop, si?, secured to the under side of the top, and the saine shelf, when dropped down to the position shown in Fig. 1, abuts its inner end against a stop, st, fixed on the under side of a step, as shown in Fig. 2, thus acting as a brace to keep the legs of the ladder apart and `firin. Bracelugs bl are placed in the corners where the hind legs ineet the top, as shown in Fig. 2, and the front and rear legs touch at their upper ends when the ladder is opened, as shown in Fig. 1, each bracing the other. rlhe steps of the ladder are not gained into the stiles, but are set into brackets, as shown iii-Figs. 13 and 14. These brack ets have spurs or prongs cl, which are driven through the stilcs and clinched down on the outside of each stile, as shown in Figs. 1 and 13, and when these brackets have been fastened to the stiles the steps are put in and a nail, n., driven through an opening in an arin into the beveled edge of the step. In one forni of this bracket, Fig. 14, this arin has a little spur, 3, which is driven into the edge of the wood for greater security, and in theother forno, Fig. 13, an additional spur, 4, is cast on the under side; but these spurs, either or both of them, may be dispensed with, as otherwise both brackets are alike in providing a shelf in the bracket itself upon which the end of the step may rest, two brackets being used at each end, one in front and the other in the rear. Much strength is gained by using such a step-support. The old inethod of gaining the end of the step into the stiles greatly weakens the latter, and is a fruit-ful source of accident. The hind legs, Z, are connected by a brace, Z, and the ends of this brace are not gained into the hind legs, but rest in supports at each end, provided by the brackets In", as shown in Fig. 4. The ends or arms of this bracket, after the brace b has been set in, are driven down and enter the wood of the brace on each side, as shown in Figs. 4 and 8.

This bracket In IOO has spurs,which are driven and clinched into legs Z. The ring-clamp of the rod r has spurs 1 in the top and 2 in the ring, the latter preventing the rod from turning. (See Fig. 6.) The socket s has two short and one long spur, which are driven into the side of leg Z', the long one being clinched down on the other side. (See Figs. 3, 5, and 7 The Whole combined structure makes a strong and cheap ladder.

What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is the following, viz:

l. The bracket br, provided with stop 8153 on the inner side, in combination with top t and legs Z and Z', substantially as described.

2. The shelf sh, ixed upon roller r, the legs Z Z, steps st, top t, clamp c, socket s, and stop st', all combined substantially as described.

3. The stepbracket bri, secured to the leg Z by spurs GZ, and providing a support for the corner of the step, substantially as described.

CALVIN G. UDELL.

Witnesses:

C. P. J AooBs, J .lcon ll?. LOEPER. 

